Facebook has been a wonderful way for us to hear what students are thinking, says M.J. Knoll-Finn, Emerson College’s vice president for enrollment. “Before, we’d only hear from the exceptionally ecstatic or upset student who bothered to write in, but now we can see exactly what the average accepted student is thinking and how they’re deciding between schools.”
While most Class of 2013 groups are formed by admitted students, Emerson is one of the few schools that runs its own Facebook page. “This is completely new for us,” says Mike Petroff, Emerson’s Web manager, who started the group in January at the request of an early-decision applicant. Petroff responds to students’ questions — When is the open house? How do they set up their e-mail accounts? — and even plans to post video tours of the college for students who can’t visit Emerson in person. But for the most part, he sits back and lets the students communicate with one another.
